In this Issue: Elder and Disability Law

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1 In this Issue: Elder and Disability Law Preserving the Primary Residence Evictions from Long-Term Care Special Needs Estate Planning Veterans Benefits Power of Attorney Also in this issue Legal Writing President s Perspective FEATURES Preserving the Primary Residence: The Minefield of Real Estate Transactions in Elder Law Planning 4 by Linda S. Ershow-Levenberg Client Capacity Assessment and Advocacy 8 by Donald D. Vanarelli Evictions From Long-Term Care 12 by William P. Isele Special Needs Settlement Planning: Preserving Public Benefits and Enhancing the Injured Party s Quality of Life 16 by Shirley B. Whitenack and Regina M. Spielberg The Use of Trusts in Divorce When Planning for the Disabled Spouse or Child 22 by Susan L. Goldring Special Needs Estate Planning 26 by Lawrence A. Friedman The Powerful Power of Attorney 29 by Regina M. Spielberg Recent Revisions to the Social Security Administration s Program Operations Manual System (POMS) Relating to Special Needs Trusts 32 by Thomas D. Begley Jr. Guardianship Applications and Attorney s Fees 41 by Brenda McElnea Mediation as a Tool in Contested Guardianship Proceedings 45 by Sharon Rivenson Mark Think Globally, Age Locally: New Jersey s Global Options for Long-Term Care 45 by Lauren S. Marinaro Elder Law s New Frontier VA Benefits 49 by Robert F. Brogan Litigating Medicaid Issues in Federal Court 53 by John W. Callinan Surveying the Recent Legislative Landscape: What Inures to the Benefit of Older Clients in New Jersey? 57 by Marilyn Askin and Jennifer Judd DEPARTMENTS PRESIDENT S PERSPECTIVE 2 MESSAGE FROM THE SPECIAL EDITORS 3 LEGAL WRITING: But Will It Write? How Writing Sharpens Decision Making 63 by Douglas E. Abrams

2 PRESIDENT S PERSPECTIVE RICHARD H. STEEN Preserving Judicial Independence The need for an independent Judiciary is as important today as it was in our nation s infancy, when Thomas Jefferson protested, in the Declaration of Independence, that King George III made Judges dependent on his will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. The need for an independent Judiciary was so fundamental to the foundation of our democracy, in fact, that our Founding Fathers codified the concept in the U.S. Constitution by providing provisions for life tenure and salary protection to members of the bench. New Jersey s modern constitution, crafted at the 1947 Constitutional Convention, provides for a strong and independent judicial branch of our state government. An independent Judiciary ensures continuity, stability and impartiality in our legal system. Traditionally, judicial candidates have been evaluated on factors including integrity, legal knowledge and ability, temperament, diligence and the ability to remain fair and impartial. The New Jersey State Bar Association has for many years been a staunch protector of and advocate for judicial independence. When the United States or the New Jersey State Senate has acted in a manner that threatens judicial independence, we have spoken out. When judicial decisions are unfairly criticized, we have defended judges from harsh and inflammatory attacks. Judges are sometimes called upon to make unpopular decisions in support of the constitutional protections afforded all of us. Last year, the state of New Jersey faced a challenge to judicial independence when the State Senate threatened extensive hearings to contest the reappointment of Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin. This past May, Governor Chris Christie chose not to reappoint Justice John Wallace Jr. The decision regarding Justice Wallace marked the first time a New Jersey Supreme Court justice seeking reappointment was denied by a governor since the state s constitution was adopted in In both instances, the New Jersey State Bar Association played an active role in fighting for reappointment of our sitting justices, an essential step toward maintaining the nationally recognized leadership of our state courts. Our actions should have come as no surprise to those familiar with the state bar s commitment to a fair and impartial bench. In fact, since 1969 the NJSBA has had an important role in evaluating candidates for the Judiciary through its compact with the Governor s Office to provide a nonpartisan evaluation of candidates for the bench by its Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee (JPAC). The issue of judicial independence remains in the forefront, and was the subject of an event held on June 22 cosponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Garden State Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, the Association of Black Women Lawyers, the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. This free symposium, titled New Jersey at a Crossroads A Crisis in Judicial Independence, featured an all-star panel of judges, lawyers and academics. Rest assured in the coming year, and beyond, we will continue to focus our attention on preserving the independence the legal profession and New Jersey s citizens have come to expect from the state s Judiciary. As Thomas Jefferson himself first publicly proclaimed, this nation s ability to fairly administer justice depends upon it. 2 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

3 MESSAGE FROM THE SPECIAL EDITORS STAFF Angela C. Scheck Publisher Cheryl Baisden Janet Gallo Paula Portner Managing Editor Graphic Designer Display Advertising EDITORIAL BOARD James J. Ferrelli Michael F. Schaff Marilyn K. Askin Mitchell H. Cobert John C. Connell Linda S. Ershow-Levenberg Angela Foster Susan R. Kaplan Brian R. Lehrer Robert Olejar Gianfranco A. Pietrafesa Steven M. Richman Susan Storch Susan Stryker Chair Vice Chair NJSBA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Richard H. Steen President Susan A. Feeney President-Elect Kevin P. McCann First Vice President Ralph J. Lamparello Second Vice President Paris P. Eliades Treasurer Miles S. Winder III Secretary Allen A. Etish Immediate Past President New Jersey Lawyer Magazine (ISSN ) is published six times per year. Permit number Subscription is included in dues to members of the New Jersey State Bar Association ($10.50); those ineligible for NJSBA membership may subscribe at $60 per year. There is a charge of $2.50 per copy for providing copies of individual articles Published by the New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey Law Center, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, New Jersey Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, New Jersey and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey Law Center, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, New Jersey Copyright 2010 New Jersey State Bar Association. All rights reserved. Any copying of material herein, in whole or in part, and by any means without written permission is prohibited. Requests for such permission should be sent to New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey Law Center, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, New Jersey New Jersey Lawyer invites contributions of articles or other items. Views and opinions expressed herein are not to be taken as official expressions of the New Jersey State Bar Association unless so stated. Publication of any articles herein does not necessarily imply endorsement in any way of the views expressed. Printed in U.S.A. Official Headquarters: New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey Law Center, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, New Jersey Advertising Display Twenty-five years ago, this magazine published a special issue titled Law and Aging, designed to stimulate the greening of Garden State lawyers to the graying of New Jersey. Although lawyers recognized that demographics would impact their practices, they believed legal problems of older adults could fit into a general, trusts and estates, or family law practice. Later that year, the trustees of the New Jersey State Bar Association approved creation of a special Aging and the Law Committee. When the new bar headquarters opened two years later in New Brunswick, the Institute for Continuing Legal Education offered a seminar titled Elder Law: It Ain t Just Wills. A record-breaking, overflow crowd had to be accommodated with piped-in audio in another room. Elder law, at the time not yet fully delineated, had, nevertheless, come of age. The committee became the Elder Law Section in the early 1990s, and later was renamed the Elder and Disability Law Section to accommodate the fastest-growing segment of the disabled population the elderly as well as their children. Older parents are forever concerned about who will take care of their disabled children when they are gone. Firms and generalists recognize they can no longer conduct business as usual with their older clients whose legal needs often go beyond the tools at a lawyer s disposal. They must consider complex federal and state statutes, regulations, both judicial and administrative law cases, unpublished opinions, and public and private institutions to which older Americans are beholden for their daily existence. A federal judge once described the elder law practice as the general store for MARILYN ASKIN LINDA S. ERSHOW- LEVENBERG the elderly and disabled. This issue of New Jersey Lawyer Magazine is designed to introduce you to the broad range of issues that a full-service elder law practice may deal with. We are privileged to present the writings of past and current chairs of the section, as well as other wellknown and highly experienced practitioners. We hope this issue stimulates your interest in this area of the law. Marilyn Askin phased out her elder law practice in 2000 to become president of AARP-NJ, and is currently the organization s chief legislative advocate. In 1985, she founded what is now the Elder & Disabilities Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and received the section s first annual Lifetime Achievement Award, named in her honor. She has taught elder law and social welfare legislation at Rutgers Law School, Newark, for the past 26 years. Linda S. Ershow-Levenberg is a principal attorney of Fink Rosner Ershow-Levenberg, LLC, a member of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine Editorial Board, and past chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association s Elder & Disability Law Section. She is certified in elder law by the National Elder Law Foundation, an accrediting body recognized by the American Bar Association and the New Jersey Supreme Court. NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

4 Preserving the Primary Residence The Minefield of Real Estate Transactions in Elder Law Planning by Linda S. Ershow-Levenberg Real property frequently comprises the largest asset in the portfolio of an individual who consults with an attorney about elder law planning. More often than not, this property is the primary residence of the client and other family members. Clients or their children will ask the attorney whether or not they should give the house to their children to prevent the nursing home from getting it. They ask this because their neighbor told them they should take this step, or because one of their child s friends heard somewhere that they need to do this. There is never a simple answer to the inquiry, for one size does not fit all when it comes to elder law planning. When a client asks about a real estate conveyance in the elder law context, consider: the impact on the elder s legal right to remain in the home the impact on a Medicaid application for either at-home or institutional services the impact on income taxes of both the transferor and the transferee the impact on the elder s financial and practical ability to remain in the home the impact on the elder s estate plan the impact of present and future liens and mortgages These considerations could also be stated as: Which legal rights in the property will be lost, and which ones retained? Is there a safer alternative than an outright transfer, such as creating a different form of ownership? Is the conveyance a gift, and if so what is its value? What will be the Medicaid transfer penalty? Is this the right time to complete the transaction? Is this property interest a countable resource or an excludable resource for Medicaid purposes? Does this property interest entail an income stream that is countable for Medicaid purposes? Will any tax benefits be lost, and will the transferee acquire income tax obligations such as capital gains taxes that can be avoided? Will the elder s practical ability to remain in the home be in jeopardy because of a shortage of liquid assets and the loss of the ability to draw out the equity in the home via such vehicles as a reverse mortgage? Will this transfer disrupt the elder s testamentary plan by disproportionately shifting assets, e.g., to one person although the elder wants a group of people to share the estate equally? Will this transaction cause existing mortgages to be called? Will it remove the risk of a future Medicaid lien? This article presumes there is someone with legal authority to transfer the real estate by gift. If the elder no longer has the legal capacity to do so, there must be a valid durable power of attorney with gifting powers that are sufficient to accomplish the specific transfer in question. If there is no power of attorney, consideration must be given to seeking legal guardianship and obtaining court authorization to make the transfer. Getting Started: Preliminary Factual Data When evaluating the pros and cons of a property transfer in the elder care context, the following data will be important: How exactly is the property titled, and what is its value? Are there any liens against the property? Do all of the owners live in the home? What is the age and health of the property owner (elder)? 4 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

5 What is the total of liquid assets available to the property owner? How do the property owner s monthly expenses compare to his or her monthly income? Is there a caregiver child in the home? How long has he or she been providing care to the parent? How soon will long-term care be needed? Is there a sibling living in the home? Is this person an owner? Is there a spouse? Will the spouse remain in the home? Is there an adult disabled child who will continue to live in the home? What is the plan if the property owner ever needs around-the-clock care? Will he or she prefer to stay home, or to move into an assistedliving or other facility? How reliable and trustworthy are the homeowner s relationships with the children and their spouses? Do they have any marital, employment or creditor problems among them? Does the property provide rental income on which the elder depends? The Impact on the Elder s Estate Plan Not infrequently, an elder carefully explains that his or her desire is for the house and other property to be divided equally among all of the children or some other group of heirs. Upon examination, however, it sometimes turns out that the estate is mostly comprised of non-probate assets, which have somehow ended up disproportionately in the name of one or two members of the group, whether as co-owners or as death beneficiaries. Sometimes this is intentional; the elder may want to leave everything to just a few, hoping they will take care of the others, or may want the whole group to divide the assets among themselves after the elder is gone. As often as not, however, elders simply did not understand that beneficiary designations such as P.O.D. (payable on death) or I.T.F. (in trust for) control the disposition of an asset despite contrary instructions in the will. 1 This is also often the case with respect to joint ownership of real estate. As title is practically conclusive of ownership, and transfers between and among the class create gift and estate tax problems of their own, failure to carefully plan and failure to adjust the probate assets and non-probate assets could be creating problems that are entirely avoidable. Transfer of real estate to one member of the class may be an exempt transfer for Medicaid purposes. The elder needs to be advised, however, of the impact this may have on his or her overall estate plan, so appropriate adjustments can be made. The Impact on the Elder s Legal Right to Remain in the Home It is important to consider whether the elder s legal right to remain in the home could be in jeopardy if anything happens to the transferee. For example, what would happen if: The person who becomes the owner of the house does not live there, and has to file for bankruptcy. The new owner (with or without a spouse) does not want the elder(s) to remain there or wants to sell. The new owner is sued and his or her interest in the house is attached by creditors. The new owner dies and the house passes through his or her estate to new owners, or must be sold to pay inheritance taxes. The new owner gets divorced and must provide property for equitable distribution. While protecting the full value of the home for the new owner, outright transfer of one s entire interest in the primary residence creates substantial legal risk should any of the above situations occur. These risks can be reduced by considering such mechanisms as a transfer with a retained life estate. The transferee would be receiving a remainder interest in the property subject to the life estate, and consequently anyone succeeding to the rights of that remainderman would also have an interest subject to the life estate. The property could not be sold during the life tenant s lifetime without his or her joining in the deed. 2 The life tenant would receive a pro rata share of the proceeds and could apply his or her capital gains exclusion if statutory criteria are met. 3 Along with having the beneficial use and enjoyment of the property, the life tenant retains the legal obligation to pay for repairs, maintenance, taxes and the like on the property, and has the right to receive the rents, if any. Benefits such as senior citizen tax abatements, the ability to procure a reverse mortgage loan, and the capital gains exclusion on the sale of a primary residence, are also retained. However, the remaindermen need to understand they do not own 100 percent of the property value during the life tenant s lifetime, even if the life tenant moves out. The Impact on Medicaid Eligibility A person can apply for Medicaid to pay for nursing home care or care in the home when the countable, available resources 4 have been reduced to $2,000 plus an allowance for the community spouse, called the community spouse resource allowance (CSRA). 5 The transfer of any interest in property for less than fair market consideration, if made within the five years prior to applying for Medicaid, will trigger a disqualification period known as a transfer penalty, unless the property was the primary residence and was transferred to one of a limited category of transferees. 6 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

6 The result of this disqualification is that Medicaid will not pay for the care for a specified period of time, called the transfer penalty period, regardless of poverty or medical necessity. The penalty begins to run when the person is in a nursing home, applies for Medicaid, and is otherwise eligible. 7 The House as a Countable or Excludable Resource Under the Medicaid Program As a general rule, all available real property is counted as a resource when applying for Medicaid, to the extent of the individual s ownership. However, although the primary residence is counted as a resource when applying for Medicaid, to the extent of the individual s ownership, it is excluded as a resource if it is occupied by the community spouse. 8 If the house is not occupied by such a person, it is excluded from consideration temporarily usually for six months but if the individual cannot return home and continues to require Medicaid benefits, it must be listed for sale at that point. 9 When the home is occupied by nonowner family members other than the spouse, the practices of the county welfare agencies vary regarding whether the property must be listed for sale. When the property is occupied by co-owner family members, or by a sibling with an equity interest, a disabled family member or a minor child at the time of the Medicaid application, typically there is no requirement that the property be immediately listed for sale. In the case of the Global Options for Long-Term Care home care program, the house may be retained. 10 If the elder is applying for Medicaid, the family may want to sell the property, but they also may want to consider keeping it and renting it out, particularly if the elder retains a life estate. The property will have a step-up in basis at the elder s death, and the life estate will evaporate. Under current law, there is no Medicaid lien against the property if all the elder held at the time of death was a life estate that extinguished at death. The net rental income after expenses, if any, would be counted as part of the Medicaid recipient s income. The fact that the property may be excludable under certain circumstances such as when there is a spouse living in the home does not mean the home can necessarily be transferred by the elder to someone else without incurring a transfer penalty. 11 Medicaid Transfer Penalties Since possession of the real property creates the risk that it will have to be sold to pay for care, elders may want to transfer that property in order to protect it for their heirs or co-owners. Transfer of the complete interest in real property as a gift within the five years preceding a Medicaid application generally causes a lengthy transfer penalty period. If partial interests are transferred, pro rata values are assigned to the amount of the transfer penalty. In a transfer with a retained life estate, actuarial tables published by Social Security dictate the value of the transfer. The issue is, if the elder transfers the house by gift and later needs aroundthe-clock care or nursing home care, will there be a way to pay for it privately during the transfer penalty period until he or she can be eligible for Medicaid? Currently, nursing home care costs between $8,000 and $10,000 per month, and not much less in one s own home. The new owner of the house is at liberty to sell, mortgage, or give back the property to pay for the care, but certainly has no legal obligation to do so. Some Transfers Cause No Penalties There are some exceptions to the transfer penalty rules with respect to gifts of the primary residence. The primary residence may be transferred to the following categories of recipients without incurring any transfer penalty at all: a spouse, a child under age 21, a child of any age who is blind or permanently disabled, a sibling who has resided in the home for one year or more and already had an equity interest in the home, and a caregiver child (not a grandchild or other relation) who has resided in the home and provided essential and substantial care giving for two years or more prior to institutionalization. Transfers of any real property to a trust for the sole benefit of the spouse or a disabled individual under age 65, can also qualify as exempt transfers, as long as all of the criteria of the regulations are satisfied. 12 It is generally advisable to transfer the residence to the community spouse. If the community spouse later sells the property, he or she will be able to retain all of the proceeds of the sale. Timing is very important when considering transfers to a caregiver child. 13 Transfer of the property to a caregiver child at the time of institutionalization is an exempt transfer; transfer of that property at a time that is unrelated to an application for Medicaid will likely cause a period of disqualification that will begin to run after the individual is already in the facility and has applied for Medicaid. Thus, if there is a caregiver child living in the home, the elder should avoid transferring the house prematurely, as he or she could be incurring a transfer penalty that could be avoided if the transfer does not take place until the last minute. The Impact on the Elder s Financial and Practical Ability to Remain in the Home; Reverse Mortgages For elders of nominal means, the equity in their home may represent the only bank account they have should they need to make capital improvements, install equipment such as lifts or ramps, or hire a caregiver to live with 6 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

7 them at home. A reverse mortgage may be available to elderly homeowners, which will enable them to draw down approximately 75 percent of the equity in their home on a periodic basis. The loan is not paid back until the homeowner either moves out or dies. At that point, the home is sold and the loan is repaid. These loans can be particularly important to elders who have no immediate family and are trying to remain in the community. The older the homeowner, the greater the loan amount available. All owners must reside in the home, and must be older than 55. The youngest owner s age is used as the measuring life. Transferring the primary residence eliminates this option, and also could result in the loss of other benefits, such as real estate tax exemptions. Some elders require care in the home and qualify for Medicaid Global Options, which only provides 25 to 40 hours a week of care. The elder can draw down the equity via a reverse mortgage to pay for the remaining care that is needed. Preserving the Home by Transferring it to a Trust Under certain circumstances, older adults may not want to transfer the home to their relatives, but may want to totally relinquish ownership for Medicaid purposes. The property can be transferred to a trust in which the elder and the trustee sign a use and occupancy agreement entitling the elder to reside there if he or she fulfills certain obligations, such as paying rent or expenses in lieu of rent. This arrangement is distinguished from a life estate, and if the trust sells the property, all of the proceeds remain in the trust. If the arrangement meets the requirements for grantor trust treatment under Internal Revenue Code Section 677(a), the capital gains exclusion for sale of the primary residence will be retained, and if the property is not sold during the grantor s life, the property will be included in the grantor s estate at death for tax purposes, and will achieve a stepup in basis to the extent allowed by law. Conclusion Preservation of the family residence for benefit of the next generation is an important goal for many clients. The real trick is balancing their own financial security against the hopes of their heirs. Endnotes 1. N.J.S.A. 17:16 I-5. See Estate of Ostlund v. Ostlund, 391 N.J. Super. 390 (App. Div. 2007) (Bank account beneficiary designations pass directly to the designee and not the estate.). 2. N.J.S.A. 2A:56-37 and N.J.S.A. 2A: N.J.A.C. 10: Higherincome individuals may retain $4,000 under the medically needy Medicaid program. 5. N.J.A.C. 10: See H.K. v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services and Atlantic County Board of Social Services, 184 N.J. 367 (2005) (The date of the gift is based on the deed date, not the recordation date.). 7. N.J.A.C. 10: and 4.10, 42 U.S.C. 1396p(c)(1)(D)(2), and see M.J. v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, HMA , final agency decision. 8. N.J.A.C. 10: See A.D. v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, HMA , initial agency decision (final agency decision not found.). 9. N.J.A.C. 10:71-4.4(b) N.J.A.C. 10:71-4.7(d) and 10: (d). 11. N.J.A.C. 10:71-4.4(b). 12. N.J.A.C. 10: (d), (e) and 42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4)(A). 13. N.J.A.C. 10: (d)4. Linda S. Ershow-Levenberg is a principal attorney of Fink Rosner Ershow-Levenberg, LLC, a member of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine Editorial Board, and past chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association s Elder & Disability Law Section. She is certified in elder law by the National Elder Law Foundation, an accrediting body recognized by the American Bar Association and the New Jersey Supreme Court. NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

8 Client Capacity Assessment and Advocacy by Donald D. Vanarelli Among the more complex ethical issues surrounding the practice of law are the special considerations that must be made when assessing and addressing the needs of a client with questionable capacity. The issue is further complicated by the fact that the standards for determining legal capacity vary, depending upon the transaction to be entered into by the client. Although an attorney may be precluded from representing a client who lacks capacity, the attorney may nevertheless engage in a meaningful attorney-client relationship with those who have less than full capacity. Context-based Capacity Standards An individual s mental capacity is judged based upon the transaction or act the person is undertaking. One commentator explains that legal capacity exists on a spectrum; a person s capacity may be insufficient to perform what is considered to be a more complex act (such as entering into a contract), but may be sufficient to perform what is considered to be a more simple act (such as making a will). 1 incompetent to transact any kind of business, but to invalidate his contract it is sufficient to show that he was mentally incompetent to deal with the particular contract in issue. 3 Testamentary Capacity Adults are generally presumed competent to execute a last will and testament. 4 Testamentary capacity is evaluated at the time of the execution of a will, and is summarized as follows: The gauge of testamentary capacity is whether the testator can comprehend the property he is about to dispose of; the natural objects of his bounty; the meaning of the business in which he is engaged; the relation of each of the factors to the others, and the distribution that is made by the will...[a]s a general principle, the law requires only a very low degree of mental capacity for one executing a will...a testator s misconception of the exact nature or value of his assets will not invalidate a will where there is no evidence of incapacity...[i]t is not ignorance of the kind or amount of property owned by the testatrix which invalidates [a] will, but ignorance resulting from a mental incapacity to comprehend the kind and amount of such property. 5 Contractual Capacity The capacity to enter a contract (a retainer agreement is a notable example) exists when the person in question possesses sufficient mind to understand, in a reasonable manner, the nature, extent, character, and effect of the act or transaction in which he is engaged. Stated otherwise: To make a valid contract, each party must be of sufficient mental capacity to appreciate the effect of what he or she is doing, and must also be able to exercise his or her will with reference thereto. There must be a meeting of the minds to effect assent, and there can be no meeting of the minds where either party to the agreement is mentally incapable of understanding the consequences of his or her acts. 2 Thus, to find that a person lacked capacity to enter into a contract, [i]t is not necessary to show that [the] person was Donative Capacity New Jersey recognizes the general principle that an adult donor is presumed competent to make a gift. The test of an adult s capacity to make a gift is that the donor shall have the ability to understand the nature and effect of the transaction. 6 According to corpus juris secundum, mental capacity to make a gift is judged by whether an individual has the ability to understand the nature of the transaction, the extent of his or her property, the objects of his or her bounty, and the manner in which the distribution is being made. 7 In sum, when examining capacity in the context of various types of legal transactions, courts have developed different legal standards for capacity for different legal documents. The tendency in the courts is to find that the more the client is willing to give up or the more complex the act, the more capacity the client must have. 8 8 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

9 Representing the Client with Diminished Capacity The New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct provide a logical starting point for practitioners struggling with issues surrounding a client with less than full capacity. The representation of a client with diminished capacity is governed by R.P.C. 1.14, which provides as follows: (a) When a client s capacity to make adequately considered decisions in connection with the representation is diminished, whether because of minority, mental impairment or for some other reason, the lawyer shall, as far as reasonably possible, maintain a normal client-lawyer relationship with the client. (b) When the lawyer reasonably believes that the client has diminished capacity, is at risk of substantial physical, financial or other harm unless action is taken and cannot adequately act in the client s own interest, the lawyer may take reasonably necessary protective action, including consulting with individuals or entities that have the ability to take action to protect the client and, in appropriate cases, seeking the appointment of a guardian ad litem, conservator, or guardian... But how does the lawyer determine whether the client s capacity is, in fact, compromised? Unfortunately, R.P.C does not provide standards for determining client capacity (or the varying levels of capacity). 9 Indeed, as one legal treatise concurs: [t]here is a distressing lack of guidance for attorneys dealing with partially incapacitated clients. Yet, it is the attorney s role, despite lack of any formal medical training, to determine whether a client s capacity is sufficient to allow him or her to understand and consent to required legal activity. 10 Capacity Assessment Tools Given that lawyers are largely left to their own devices to formulate a method of determining a client s impairment, there is room for the attorney to rely on instinct and experience to make these assessments. 11 However, as one commentator cautions, in representing elderly clients situations arise with increasing frequency that challenge the attorney s ability to react on a gut instinct alone. 12 Rather than relying solely on instinct or experience, the attorney may employ a number of different tests to inform the decision regarding a client s capacity. One assessment tool, which is popular because of its reliability and ease of use, is the mini mental state exam (MMSE). The MMSE consists of 30 questions, and a score below 24 suggests that cognitive impairment may exist. 13 Another assessment tool is the Baird B. Brown legal capacity questionnaire, which is said to combine[] medical and legal principals...to assess the conceptual knowledge required to demonstrate testamentary capacity...[while providing] insight into the client s mental state. The client capacity screen is a one-page assessment to assist the lawyer in making a capacity assessment. 14 Another source of guidance in the assessment of client capacity, provided by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and the American Psychological Association (ABA-APA), is the 2005 publication titled Assessment of Older Adults with Diminished Capacity: A Handbook for Lawyers. The ABA-APA handbook advocates the use of markers, or indicators in the initial assessment of client capacity, which should not be taken in and of themselves to be proof of diminished capacity, but instead may indicate a need for further evaluation of capacity by an independent professional. The assessment encompasses examination of possible cognitive, emotional, and behavioral signs that may indicate incapacity, and compares the client s understanding in relation to the legal definition of capacity for the particular transaction in issue. As the ABA-APA handbook opines, for many, if not most clients,...clinical consultation or assessment will not be needed to reach a firm conclusion about capacity. 15 However, the lawyer s initial assessment of client capacity may be followed by the use of a clinical consultation or assessment, if the lawyer believes it necessary in order to make a capacity determination. New Jersey courts support a lawyer s sparing use of referrals for clinical assessment. In Lovett v. Estate of Lovett, a client of advanced age and weakened memory executed a new will that was inconsistent with his longstanding testamentary plan. The legal malpractice claim that followed was based upon the estate planning lawyer s alleged failure to recommend a psychological evaluation to determine the client s testamentary capacity, given the client s age and weakened memory, prior to allowing him to execute the new will. The court rejected this claim, stating: The fact that Lovett wanted a simple will in spite of having a substantial estate does not suggest incompetency; nor did his age. The fact that Lovett s memory was not as strong as it had been, although a factor to be considered, was far from sufficient to warrant [the lawyer s] refusal to act or to require him to insist that Lovett obtain a psychological exam. Circumstances which would justify a suggestion from a lawyer that a client be psychiatrically evaluated as a prerequisite to signing legal documents would be rare. This was not such a circumstance. 16 Assistance and Advocacy As a preliminary matter, the lawyer NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

10 should routinely counsel a competent client to take steps to protect him or herself in the event of future incapacity, such as through the use of durable powers of attorney, advance directives and healthcare proxies. 17 However, the attorney is often faced with a client who has not taken these protective steps, and who has reached a level of diminished capacity. Ethics Opinion 625, Representation of Client Believed to be Incompetent, was issued in response to an attorney s inquiry regarding the continued representation of a client with questionable capacity in the context of general litigation. In Opinion 625, the client arrived late to an administrative law hearing and displayed behavior that was irrational, totally incapable of assisting counsel, agitated and potentially violent. The client s husband was attempting to have the client committed for her bizarre and paranoid behavior, and the client had threatened to file ethics charges against her attorney. The client had also rejected a settlement her attorney felt was in her best interests. Based upon these facts, the attorney inquired into whether, and in what manner, he should continue to represent the client. The New Jersey Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics noted that the difficulties which inhere in situations such as that presented here are obvious, and that several of the lawyer s basic duties may conflict, including confidentiality rules and the attorney s obligation to exhibit candor toward the tribunal. The committee suggested a lawyer may terminate representation if withdrawal can be accomplished without material adverse effect on the interests of the client, or if the client insists on a course of action that the lawyer considers repugnant or imprudent, or other good cause for withdrawal exists. Cautioning that there can be no hard, fast or inflexible rules for resolving situations involving clients with diminished capacity, the committee concluded: the lawyer must attempt to effectively advise the client of the status of the case unless he soundly believes that she cannot comprehend or that the communication would adversely affect her health or well-being. If either exists, or, as here, she is incapable of effectively assisting in her own defense (based on a firm professional judgment), the appointment of a guardian should be sought. Counsel may continue to represent his client here unless he believes the course of action he is forced to take would be imprudent or if his continued representation would adversely affect his client. He would be required to continue his representation only if his withdrawal could prejudicially affect her. 18 Advocacy of Client s Wishes vs. Promoting Client s Best Interests Implicit in entertaining a normal relationship with a client with diminished capacity is the struggle between competing views: the lawyer as advocate for the client, on the one hand, and the lawyer promoting what he or she believes to be the best interests of the client. However, the generally accepted view is that the lawyer should advocate the client s wishes, rather than what the lawyer determines to be in the client s best interests. 19 The New Jersey Supreme Court addressed whether a generally incompetent individual must prove that he or she retains the capacity to choose where to live. During the course of its analysis, in which it emphasized the need to preserve an incapacitated person s right of self-determination to the extent possible, the M.R. Court examined the actions of M.R. s court-appointed counsel. In contrasting the role of court-appointed attorney with that of a guardian ad litem, the M.R. Court quoted the Supreme Court Judiciary Surrogates Liaison Committee and Civil Practice Committee guidelines for attorneys, which stated: [t]he role of the representative attorney is entirely different from that of a guardian ad litem. The representative attorney is a zealous advocate for the wishes of the client. The guardian ad litem evaluates for himself or herself what is in the best interests of his or her client-ward and then represent[s] the client-ward in accordance with that judgment. The M.R. decision was founded upon the recognition that [a]dvocacy that is diluted by excessive concern for the client s best interests would raise troubling questions for attorneys in an adversarial system. 20 Following the M.R. decision, Rule 4:86-4 of the New Jersey Rules of Court was amended to distinguish between the role of guardian ad litem and that of the court-appointed attorney in a guardianship action. (d) Guardian Ad Litem. At any time prior to entry of judgment, where special circumstances come to the attention of the court by formal motion or otherwise, a guardian ad litem may, in addition to counsel, be appointed to evaluate the best interests of the alleged incapacitated person and to present that evaluation to the court. 21 Maximizing Client Capacity In cases in which a client s capacity may be compromised, the lawyer may utilize a number of practical techniques to maximize that capacity. Physical surroundings may be adapted to maximize the client s capacity level. For example, because many clients with diminished capacity suffer from difficulties with 10 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

11 sight and hearing, the lawyer may compensate for these impairments by minimizing background noise and glare, directly facing the client, and speaking slowly. In addition, because many older adults function best at certain times of day (generally the morning), the attorney should determine the best time of day for a particular client, and arrange meetings to accommodate that schedule. The lawyer should also consider making appointments at the older client s home, where he or she is more comfortable and likely to function more fully. It is also vital to avoid confusing physical frailty with mental impairment; the ABA-APA handbook advocates the importance of beginning a relationship with a client by presuming capacity, and avoiding a stereotypical attitude toward the older client, as such attitudes can unconsciously obstruct communication with and perception of the client. 22 Conclusion R.P.C is the primary source of guidance for New Jersey attorneys representing clients with diminished capacity. However, as one scholar opines, the model rule, which was adopted as R.P.C in New Jersey, is one of the most well-intended and progressive of the Model Rules...The controversy...lies not in its spirit but rather in its vagueness. The resounding criticism is that lawyers are still plagued with many unanswered practical questions. 23 It is likely that the reason for the seeming vagueness in R.P.C. 1:14 is that these issues are simply incapable of clear answers, given the infinite range of facts and nuances presented by a given case. The nature of incapacity itself is problematic; one commentator colorfully compares the concept of incapacity to the lava lamp of the sixties you can never really pin it down and it changes every time you look at it. 24 As the New Jersey Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics correctly observed, the determination of a lawyer s responsibilities to a client who suffers from a mental infirmity or disorder is not an easy one. Perhaps the admittedly vague framework of R.P.C is the best method for allowing the informed attorney to use his or her firm professional judgment in practice. 25 Endnotes 1. Frolik, L. and Radford, S., Sufficient Capacity: The Contrasting Capacity Requirements for Different Documents, 2 NAELA Journal 303, 304 (2006) A C.J.S. Contracts In re Schiller, 148 N.J. Super. 168 (Ch. Div. 1977) (quoting 17 C.J.S. Contracts 1331(l)); In re W.S., 152 N.J. Super. 298 (N.J. Juv. & Dom. Rel. 1977). 4. Haynes v. First Nat l State Bank, 87 N.J. 163, (1981). 5. In re Liebl, 260 N.J. Super. 519, (App. Div. 1992), certif. denied, 133 N.J. 432 (1993) (citations omitted). 6. Pascale v. Pascale, 113 N.J. 20, 29 (1988) (quoting Conners v. Murphy, 100 N.J. Eq. 280, 282 (E. & A. 1926) (further citations omitted)) A C.J.S. Gifts Boyer, E., Representing the Client with Marginal Capacity: Challenges for the Elder Law Attorney A Resource Guide, 12-Spring NAELA Q. 3, 7 (Spring 1999). 9. See Regan, J., Morgan, R. and English, D., Tax, Estate & Financial Planning for the Elderly, 1.06[4] at 1-17 (Matthew Bender 2005). 10. Frolik, L. and Brown, M., Advising the Elderly or Disabled Client, 1.04 at 1-8 (2d ed. Warren, Gorham & Lamont 2003). 11. Laffitte, E., Model Rule 1.14: The Well-Intended Rule Still Leaves Some Questions Unanswered, 17 Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics 313, 325 (Winter 2004) (further citation omitted); Regan, J., Morgan, R. and English, D., supra, 1.06[4] at Boyer, E., supra, at Regan, J., Morgan, R. and English, D., supra, 1.06[4] at 1-16; Boyer, E., supra at Boyer, E., supra, at N.J. Super. 79, (Ch. Div. 1991) (emphasis supplied). 17. American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Commentaries on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct (4th ed. 2006), N.J.L.J. 991, 1989 WL (N.J. Adv. Comm. Prof. Eth. April 20, 1989). 19. Laffitte, E., supra, at N.J. 155 (1994). 21. In re Mason, 305 N.J. Super. 120, (Ch. Div. 1997). 22. Boyer, E., supra, at Laffitte, E., supra, at Boyer, E., supra, at Ethics Opinion 625, Representation of Client Believed to be Incompetent, supra, 123 N.J.L.J Donald D. Vanarelli is an elder and disability law attorney certified by the National Elder Law Foundation, an ABAcertifying organization. He represents older and disabled persons and their representatives in financing long-term medical care; nursing home issues; qualifying for Medicare, Medicaid and other public benefits; special needs planning; estate planning; probate and guardianship proceedings. NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

12 Evictions From Long-Term Care by William P. Isele Ted Ted, 89, is retired from the military. Non-ambulatory, incontinent, and suffering from dementia, he was bed bound, and required extensive care from the staff at the South Jersey nursing home where he resided. Ted was not the problem. Yes, he had many needs, but the staff was used to dealing with them. He was compliant with care, and pleasant to the staff. Money was not the problem. Ted had a good pension from the military, and had accumulated significant savings. His only child, Regina, was a highly successful fashion designer, who lived in a penthouse in New York and had plenty of money. Bills were paid promptly. But on her weekly visits, Regina took the nursing home by storm, demanding, insisting, verbally abusing everyone from the housekeeping staff up to and including the administrator. Nothing was ever good enough for her father. Her tirades and abusive conduct resulted in several aides and at least two nurses refusing to care for her father. Two very caring and competent aides had even resigned after receiving tongue-lashings from her. At his wits end, the beleaguered administrator sent Regina a 30-day discharge notice: Take Ted somewhere else; we can no longer meet his needs. Rita Rita, 89, had never married, and had no children. She had been one of the first women to hold an executive position with a large Wall Street investment firm, and had devoted her life to her work. She retired in 1992, after 50 years with the firm, and for eight years took cruises, tours and excursions to all parts of the world. By 2001, however, the arthritis in her hands, hips, and knees had become crippling, and she reluctantly accepted the prognosis that she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. She gave up her apartment in the city, and moved to a pleasant and highly recommended nursing home in rural New Jersey. She had thought that her remaining $750,000 savings, plus her pension and Social Security would suffice, but nine years at nearly $100,000 per year, plus the downturn in her beloved stock market in 2008, left her financially embarrassed as 2010 dawned. Not that she hadn t seen trouble coming; she d astutely started selling off her weaker stocks in Lehman Brothers and AIG were the last to go, just before the crash. Unfortunately, she hadn t been as careful at retaining documentation of her sell-offs of stock as she should have been. Now, with little remaining other than her pension and Social Security income, she has applied for Medicaid. The county board of social services wants more information before it will approve her application; information she simply cannot find. She could not pay the nursing home in full for January and February, and they have given her a 30-day discharge notice. After nine years in the facility, she has nowhere to go, and she is terrified. Two elderly people, each facing imminent discharge from the facilities that have become their homes. Their different circumstances invoke different legal considerations, different legal provisions, and, therefore, different approaches. Social Security and Medicare There is a common misconception that when one is old and in need of long-term care, the government will provide. The simple fact of the matter is that Medicare does not pay for long-term care. Medicare and Social Security are programs of insurance. Employees and employers pay a payroll tax, which functions as an insurance premium. Those of us who have paid into Social Security all our working lives expect the federal government will send us monthly Social Security checks at retirement. This expectation has eroded somewhat in recent years. For our parents, Social Security began at age 65. Now, for those born between 1943 and 1954, full retirement benefits can only begin at age 66. Those born in 1960 or later will have to wait until age As fewer and fewer people pay into Social Security, the age at which one can collect full retirement benefits will get later and later. Medicare is the health insurance part of the Social Security, or Old Age Survivors Disability and Health Insurance (OAS- DHI) program. At this writing, workers who have paid into the 12 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

13 Medicare trust fund can receive health benefits from Medicare beginning at age 65. However, in March 2009 Medicare trustees reported that the program has deteriorated significantly, and that funds will run out in Today, more than 41 million Americans are covered by Medicare. The program is funded in part by a 2.9 percent payroll tax. However, payroll taxes will not cover the program s hospital costs this year, making it necessary to rely on interest earnings from Medicare s $256 billion trust fund. 2 Like many private health insurance programs, Medicare pays for hospitalization (Part A); the services of physicians and other professionals (Part B); and prescription drugs (Part D). No part of Medicare pays for long-term care. Some limited benefits are available for rehabilitation services after a hospitalization, and for this reason, nursing facilities that provide rehabilitation services become Medicare-qualified. Medicare insurance does not cover the type of custodial long-term care needed by individuals like Ted and Rita. Rights of Private Pay Residents In the opening scenarios, Ted is an example of a private-pay resident. No federal law relates to his circumstances, because the facility receives no federal funds for his care. One must look solely to New Jersey s long-term care licensing rules. 3 Under the rubric Residents Rights, the rule states that the resident has a right: To be transferred or discharged only for one or more of the following reasons, with the reason for the transfer or discharge recorded in the resident s medical record: i. In an emergency, with notification to the resident s physician or advanced practice nurse and next of kin or guardian; ii. For medical reasons or to protect the resident s welfare or the welfare of others; iii. To comply with clearly expressed and documented resident choice, or in conformance with the New Jersey Advance Directives for Health Care Act, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:39-9.6(d); or iv. For nonpayment of fees, in situations not prohibited by law. None of the four reasons apply to Ted s situation as described. The reason stated in the facility s notice, that it can no longer meet Ted s needs, is an effort to fit within the second regulatory reason, medical reasons. In fact, there is no medical reason to discharge Ted. The reason is better described as social in nature (i.e., the inability of Ted s daughter and the facility staff to work cooperatively in his best interest). In a situation such as Ted s, the facility would do well to reach out to the state ombudsman for the institutionalized elderly, or a private elder mediation service, to facilitate a meeting between the staff and Ted s daughter, Regina. The facility is rightfully concerned about the loss of trained staff due to Regina s behavior. Regina may have some legitimate concerns about her father s care. These issues certainly need to be addressed, but discharge of the father because of the daughter s disruptive behavior is not permissible. Rights of the Medicaid Eligible/Medicaid Pending A governmental program that does pay for long-term care is Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that pays for healthcare services to the poor. To be eligible to receive institutional Medicaid (i.e., payment for nursing home care), one s total assets may not exceed $2,000 ($4,000 if income exceeds a certain level called medically needy). If a person in a nursing home (known generally as a resident, and to Medicaid as a beneficiary) cannot pay privately, and is not eligible under Medicaid rules to have his or her stay paid for by Medicaid, it may seem as though the nursing home may discharge the resident under the fourth reason indicated above, for nonpayment, in situations not prohibited by law. One must ask, however, in what situations would discharge be prohibited by law? Federal Medicaid Provisions The answer to that question lies in the contract between Medicaid and the nursing facility, which allows the facility to be reimbursed by Medicaid the Medicaid provider agreement. As might be expected, the Medicaid provider agreement requires the provider-facility to comply with all state and federal Medicaid laws, rules, and regulations. Under the federal Medicaid regulations, 4 in order for a facility to participate in the Medicaid program: The facility must permit each resident to remain in the facility, and not transfer or discharge the resident from the facility unless (i) The transfer or discharge is necessary for the resident s welfare and the resident s needs cannot be met in the facility; (ii) The transfer or discharge is appropriate because the resident s health has improved sufficiently so the resident no longer needs the services provided by the facility; (iii) The safety of individuals in the facility is endangered; (iv) The health of individuals in the facility would otherwise be endangered; (v) The resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or to have paid under Medicare or Medicaid) a stay at the facility. For a resident who becomes eligible for Medicaid after admission to a facility, the facility may charge a resident only allowable charges under Medicaid; or (vi) The facility ceases to operate. NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

14 There are documentation and notice requirements that are triggered by a decision to discharge, but essentially these six reasons are the only permissible grounds for discharging a nursing home resident who is Medicaid-eligible. The fifth reason seems germane to this issue of non-payment, but again, is subject to conditions. How does a nursing home resident have [his or her stay at a facility] paid [for] under Medicare or Medicaid? The answer cannot be found in the federal regulations. Rather, as noted above, Medicaid is a joint federal-state program. The process by which a person s stay in a nursing facility is reimbursed by Medicaid is defined in applicable state rules. 5 State Medicaid Rules This rule addresses the issue of involuntary discharge in greater detail and specificity than does the federal regulation. The language of the entire regulation is protective of Medicaid recipients, and deserves careful reading. One must begin, however, with the definition of Medicaid beneficiary : A Medicaid beneficiary is a Medicaid eligible individual residing in a N[ursing] F[acility] which has a Medicaid provider agreement. This includes an individual who had entered the facility as non-medicaid and is awaiting resolution of Medicaid eligibility. 6 Consequently, a person who has applied for and is currently awaiting resolution of his or her Medicaid eligibility, is considered a beneficiary, entitled to all the other protections and procedures found in the rest of this rule. The rest of the rule, and some subsequent sections, lay out very specific procedures that must be followed if a Medicaid beneficiary is to be discharged or transferred from the facility. No Right to Evict Under the federal regulation, 7 a nursing facility may believe that it has the right to transfer a person who is awaiting Medicaid approval out of the facility, because he or she has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or have paid under Medicaid) his/her stay at the facility. But neither the federal regulations nor the state rules create a right to evict. Rather, the regulations limit and restrict the circumstances under which a nursing facility can ever evict a resident. Even those residents who fall into one of the threshold exceptions listed in the federal and state rules 8 are entitled to additional rights and procedures under the state Medicaid rules. 9 These provisions are designed to protect the often elderly, infirm, and disabled persons who have applied for, and are awaiting resolution of Medicaid eligibility. A person who has applied for, and is actively pursuing Medicaid eligibility, like Rita in our scenario, cannot be said to have failed to act. Federal-State Construction It may be instructive to compare the general language of the federal regulation 10 with the more specific language of the state Medicaid rule. 11 The former prohibits discharge of a resident unless the resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or have paid under Medicare or Medicaid) a stay at the facility. As indicated above, it is unclear what the resident must do in order to have paid under Medicare or Medicaid. The state rule clarifies the federal regulation, in that it prohibits discharge of a resident unless the resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to reimburse the N[ursing] F[acility] for a stay in the facility from his/her available income as reported on the PA-3L. 12 Here, clearly stated, is the resident s responsibility. The PA-3L form, titled Statement of Income Available for Medicaid Payment, is completed by the county board of social services when a resident s Medicaid application has been approved. It summarizes the resident s complete financial information. But the PA-3L is completed only upon approval of a Medicaid application. If a person s application is still pending, no PA-3L would yet have been completed. Some nursing home administrators may feel the applicant should pay at the private-pay rate, until Medicaid is approved. Logically, however, this is not always possible, because the applicant, in order to be Medicaid eligible, cannot have resources in excess of $2,000. Many applicants have less than that. While most elder care attorneys recommend beginning the Medicaid application process at least six months before a resident s funds are likely to be spent down, sudden illness or hospitalization, or a downturn in the economy, can drastically shorten the period for those who follow that advice. Many Medicaid applicants cannot afford to seek a lawyer s advice, or seek it too late for it to be helpful. Nevertheless, such an applicant is not refusing to pay, but is by definition unable to pay, while awaiting resolution of Medicaid eligibility. To emphasize the fact that a facility has no right to discharge or transfer a Medicaid beneficiary (as defined above), the state Medicaid rule goes on to state: In any determination as to whether a transfer is authorized by this rule, the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, shall rest with the party requesting the transfer, who shall be required to appear at a hearing if one is requested and scheduled. 13 Thus, counsel representing a person who, although having applied for Medicaid is being threatened with discharge for nonpayment, should request a fair hearing, in writing. There Can Be No Involuntary Discharge Without a Discharge Plan Even when a facility has lawful 14 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

15 grounds for involuntary discharge, it must develop an appropriate discharge plan. The facility must designate a location to which it intends to discharge the beneficiary, and must state how the beneficiary s health and social needs are to be met. Lest there be any doubt, state licensure rules mandate that: Discharge plans, for those residents considered to be likely candidates for discharge into the community or a less intensive care setting, shall be developed by the interdisciplinary team prior to discharge and shall reflect physician s orders, and communication with the resident and the resident s family. 14 The rule describes some of the factors that must be taken into account, including, but not limited to, the effect of relocation trauma on the beneficiary, the proximity of the proposed placement to family and friends, and the availability of necessary medical and social services. Thus, the rule presumes that any discharge must be thoroughly planned, and focused on the needs of the beneficiary. The circumstances and medical needs of many residents are such that no acceptable plan for their discharge to the community could be written, even assuming that a location for discharge could be identified. State Medicaid rules also set forth very detailed and specific considerations and procedures for the relocation of a resident. 15 Prior notice of a discharge must be submitted to the Department of Health and Senior Service s Long-Term Care Field Office (LTCFO), with documentation of the reasons for discharge. Only after the LTCFO determines a transfer is appropriate can the facility give a 30-day written notice to the beneficiary and the beneficiary s representative (with copies to the LTCFO and the Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly). That notice must advise the beneficiary of his or her right to a hearing. Should the hearing confirm the appropriateness of the discharge, counseling and a review of the new location by the LTCFO is required. Finally, no owner, administrator or employee of a nursing facility may attempt to have beneficiaries seek relocation by harassment or threats. Such actions could result in termination of the Medicaid provider agreement. Conclusion Not everyone can count on the government to pay for their care when they are aged and ill. Medicaid beneficiaries, however, including those who have applied for Medicaid and are awaiting resolution of their Medicaid eligibility, have significant rights. Nursing facilities do not have a right to evict these individuals, and must carefully follow procedures detailed in Department of Health and Senior Services regulations to seek approval for discharge in appropriate cases. Endnotes 1. P.L (1983). 2. Source: 2009 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds, p N.J.A.C. 8:39-4.1(a) C.F.R (a)(2). 5. N.J.A.C. 8: N.J.A.C. 8: (d) C.F.R (a)(2)(v) C.F.R (a)(2)(v) and N.J.A.C. 8: (e). 9. N.J.A.C. 8: (f), (g) and (h) C.F.R (a)(2)(v). 11. N.J.A.C. 8: (e)(3). 12. N.J.A.C. 8: (e)(3). 13. N.J.A.C. 8: (f). 14. N.J.A.C. 8:39-5.4(b). 15. N.J.A.C. 8: (g) and (h). William P. Isele is of counsel to Archer & Greiner, P.C. in Princeton. He concentrates his practice in matters of healthcare and elder law, and served as the New Jersey ombudsman for the institutionalized elderly from NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

16 Special Needs Settlement Planning Preserving Public Benefits and Enhancing the Injured Party s Quality of Life by Shirley B. Whitenack and Regina M. Spielberg Special needs settlement planning combines traditional government benefits planning with settlement-related issues as varied as identifying government benefits programs; determining and compromising Medicare, Medicaid and other liens; advising the personal injury attorney and the client regarding settlement vehicles in the context of disability planning; preparing and administering special needs trusts (SNTs); and creating Medicare set-aside arrangements (MSAs). The special needs attorney plays a distinctive and important role in personal injury settlement planning. While the personal injury attorney focuses on the litigation issues that will obtain the best settlement for the plaintiff, the special needs attorney focuses on issues unique to individuals with disabilities. As a result, the earlier the special needs attorney enters a case, the greater the benefit to the plaintiff. The personal injury attorney benefits from early intervention by the special needs attorney, since the services provided by the special needs attorney allow the personal injury attorney to concentrate on the litigation and settlement issues without the distraction of disability issues that are typically not his or her area of expertise. The failure of a personal injury attorney to involve the special needs attorney early in the case may cost the injured party a valuable planning opportunity. For example, the personal injury attorney may not appreciate the fact that a special needs trust cannot be established for individuals over the age of 65, or that New Jersey does not allow people over the age of 65 to place assets in a pooled trust. The earlier a special needs attorney becomes involved, the more likely the injured party will receive the best possible advice. Ascertain the Needs of the Plaintiff with Disabilities An injured person is in immediate need of medical care. The person may lose his or her job, and subsequently group health insurance. A special needs attorney can assist in determining what government benefits programs are available to assist the person until the matter is ultimately settled, and thereafter. There are a number of government benefits programs to consider for a person with disabilities. While an indepth examination of these programs is beyond the scope of this article, the plaintiff s eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Social Security Disability (SSD), Medicare and federally assisted housing should be considered. Preparing a special needs trust may enable the injured party to qualify for means-tested government benefits during the pendency of the lawsuit. The special needs attorney should gather information about the injured party as soon as possible. It is important to know the date and nature of the injuries; the long-term prognosis; the public benefits the injured party already receives; costs advanced by family members, if any; and other creditors such as recipients of court-ordered child or spousal support. Also significant is a description of the injured party s assets, the life care plan, estate planning documents, medical information and guardianship/conservatorship appointments. A life care plan is designed to assess the individual s current and future needs, and the associated costs. Life care plans recommend appropriate medical equipment, services and treatment; project costs for the recommendations; and consider the current support system of the individual and alternatives in the event the current support system becomes unavailable. Public Assistance Programs The special needs attorney assists the personal injury attorney in determining the public benefits programs for which the injured party is or may become eligible, and the issues presented by those programs, such as: SSI. A means-tested, federal welfare program providing the recipient with a cash benefit for food and shelter. SSI benefits are reduced dollar-for-dollar for countable income. SSI 16 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

17 recipients may not have more than $2,000 of countable resources, including assets of any trust funded with the property of an SSI recipient, unless the trust was created pursuant to 42 U.S.C.A. 1396p(d)(4)(A). 1 A special needs trust for a tort victim should be structured to avoid payment of trust assets directly to the recipient, so SSI benefits are not reduced or lost, and so trust assets in excess of $2,000 remain unavailable to the recipient. Medicaid. A means-tested federal and state program covering a broad spectrum of medical services without deductibles, co-payments or coverage limits. 2 Medicaid has stringent financial eligibility requirements, including income and resource limitations, as well as penalties for the transfer of assets. New Jersey is an SSI state, meaning all SSI recipients are automatically eligible for Medicaid. SSD. A federal cash benefit program for the benefit of a person with disabilities (as defined under the Social Security Act) 3 administered by the Social Security Administration. SSD is an insurance program based on the Social Security earning records of the SSD recipient that is not means-tested. If a child becomes disabled prior to attaining the age of 22, eligibility is based on the earnings record of a retired or deceased parent. Medicare. A federal medical insurance program established under the Social Security Act and 42 U.S.C.A that is not means-tested. To be eligible for Medicare, a person must be: 1) age 65 or older and either eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits or the spouse or surviving spouse of a person who is eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits; 2) age 65 or older and divorced from a person who is eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, where the marriage lasted at least 10 years and the person did not remarry; 3) under age 65 and, with few exceptions, receiving Social Security Disability benefits for 25 months. 4 Federally Assisted Housing. These are programs that provide subsidized housing, including Section 8 rental assistance for low-income families. 5 Determine and Compromise Claims and Liens Settling a personal injury case can take years from the time the injury occurs. During that time, if the injured party accesses benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, or Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) 6 medical insurance, there are liens that must be settled prior to settlement of the personal injury case. The Medicare Lien The Medicare Secondary Payer Program (MSP) 7 provides that Medicare is a secondary payer for any medical services for which payments have been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made under worker s compensation or other insurance, including automobile, health or liability policies. MSP creates a statutory lien for payments made under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. 8 The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of expanded Medicare s recovery authority, allowing the government double damages from parties who settle cases without satisfying the Medicare lien. This provision places a great responsibility on attorneys to assure they are compliant. Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage have a separate right of recovery. 10 To the extent Medicare makes a payment in a third-party liability case, the payment is conditional and must be repaid when the matter is settled. Medicare s right of recovery has priority over any subrogated right, and also has priority over Medicaid. Medicare is not bound by a settlement made between the beneficiary and the responsible party. Medicare may pursue its own claim against the liability insurer. If the liability insurer does not properly pay Medicare, Medicare has the right to take legal action against the insurer and to collect double damages. 11 Determining the correct amount of the Medicare claim is an important part of the attorney s role. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) can provide a conditional payment summary on request. Medicare considers all monies recovered to be related to medical expenses, regardless of how they are characterized. Medicare will recognize allocation of liability payments for non-medical loss only when payment is based upon a court order that specifically designates amounts that are not related to medical expenses, such as amounts for pain and suffering. Medicare recognizes a proportionate share of the necessary procurement costs (i.e., court costs and attorney fees incurred in obtaining a settlement) as a reduction to Medicare s repayment. 12 Plaintiff s counsel must notify Medicare of any possible settlement prior to final settlement or adjudication of the case on its merits. Medicare will then stipulate to its claim, preventing additional subsequent charges. A Medicare claim may be asserted even against the estate of a deceased plaintiff. The amount of the Medicare lien may be appealed in writing. The three levels of appeal are waiver, partial waiver and compromise. A waiver can be requested of a Medicare contractor after settlement is reached and Medicare has set a final claim amount based on financial hardship. Alternatively, only CMS has authority to compromise a Medicare lien. A request for compromise may be made prior to or after settlement. A partial waiver based on facts and circumstances may be granted against a specific entity. If the initial request for waiver, compromise or partial waiver is denied, an appeal for reconsideration may be made. 13 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

18 The Medicaid Lien Federal law requires each state Medicaid program to ascertain the legal liability of third parties to reimburse for medical assistance provided by the state, and to recover from third parties the cost of medical assistance provided. 14 In New Jersey, the attorney general is required to enforce rights against third parties for recovery of medical assistance payments. The Medicaid recipient, or his or her guardian, executor, administrator or other appropriate representative who brings an action for damages against a third party, must provide written notice to the appropriate Medicaid agency. As a condition of eligibility for medical assistance, a Medicaid recipient assigns to the state any rights to payment for medical care from a third party. 15 The United States Supreme Court has held that federal laws requiring a Medicaid recipient to assign payments from third parties only extended to medical care, and did not allow state Medicaid agencies to collect on amounts attributable to future expenses, permanent injury and lost earnings. 16 Medicaid may waive or compromise the enforcement of a lien in hardship situations. In some states, however, hardship waivers are not available. The New Jersey Appellate Division found that states have a duty of repayment to the federal government of monies expended by the federal government, even if the state compromises a lien, and therefore the state of New Jersey can refuse to compromise the lien. 17 Failure to notify the appropriate agencies when a lien may exist may result in the attorney s liability for satisfaction of the lien. An attorney was held liable for satisfaction of a lien where he or she elected to structure an entire settlement, other than attorney s fees, thus failing to protect Medicaid s lien. 18 Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Liens ERISA preempts state law in the area of self-funded employee benefit plans. 19 There are two important exceptions known as the savings clause and the deemer clause. The savings clause states that ERISA does not exempt any person from any state law regulating insurance banking or securities. 20 The deemer clause states that an employee benefit plan or trust under such a plan shall not be deemed an insurance company or other insurer, bank, trust company, or investment company for purposes of any state law regulating insurance companies, insurance contracts, banks, trust companies or investment companies. 21 It establishes as an area of exclusive federal concern the subject of every state law that relate[s] to an employee benefit plan governed by ERISA. The saving clause returns to the states the power to enforce those state laws that regulate insurance, except as provided in the deemer clause. Under the deemer clause, an employee benefit plan governed by ERISA shall not be deemed to be an insurance company, an insurer, or engaged in the business of insurance for purposes of state laws purporting to regulate insurance companies or insurance contracts. 22 As a result, a self-insured employee benefit plan has federal preemption under ERISA and recovery is governed by the terms of ERISA, whereas an employee benefit under an insurance company plan is subject to state law with regard to any right of recovery. ERISA provides that a civil action may be brought by a plan fiduciary to obtain appropriate equitable relief to enforce any provisions of ERISA or the terms of the plan. 23 In Sebeboff v. Mid Atlantic Med. Servs., Inc., 24 the seminal case on ERISA liens, the fiduciary of an ERISA health insurance plan sued the beneficiaries to collect medical expenses paid by the plan on their behalf. The plan contained an Acts of Third Parties provision requiring beneficiaries to reimburse the fiduciary for all third-party recoveries. The beneficiaries were injured in an auto accident, and the plan paid their medical expenses. The fiduciary sought reimbursement of those expenses upon the settlement of the beneficiaries tort case. The Court held the fiduciary s action to enforce the acts of third parties provision was authorized as equitable relief under Section 502(a)(3) of ERISA. To determine whether there is an ERISA lien, the special needs attorney must first determine whether the plan is self-funded, and therefore governed by ERISA and not state law. If it is an ERISA plan, the plan itself must be reviewed to determine whether its language provides a right of recovery. In addition to looking to the language of the plan, there are other possible defenses to an ERISA claim: the make whole doctrine; equitable contract defenses; specific fund doctrine; and application of Ahlborn. 25 The make whole doctrine, whereby an injured person should be fully compensated for injuries prior to reimbursement for medical expenses, is the default law in most states, and is part of federal common law. Specific language in a plan can negate the doctrine; however, standard subrogation language does not negate it. 26 Cases involving the make whole doctrine have produced mixed results. 27 Enforcement of an ERISA lien is an equitable action arising out of contract law. As a result, equitable defenses may be effective counters to an ERISA claim. 28 Among these are the defenses of equity will not aid in the enforcement of forfeiture and unclean hands. The specific fund doctrine was the principal at work in Sebeboff. Settlement funds in Sebeboff were set aside during the resolution of the lien. The Court held that the lien was only enforceable against a specifically identified fund. The plan language limited its right of recovery to the amount paid for care associated with the injury, not the 18 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

19 entire settlement. As a result, the language of the ERISA plan must be analyzed to determine if it identifies a specific fund or if it does not limit the plan s recovery to the amount paid for care associated with the injury. If not, the lien is not enforceable. Medicare Set-aside Trusts While resolving Medicare liens addresses medical expenses paid by Medicare prior to the settlement of a case, Medicare set-asides address medical expenses that will be incurred after the settlement of a case. A portion of the settlement is set aside in a trust created for this purpose. The Medicare Secondary Payer Program (MSP) provides that Medicare is a secondary payer for any medical services for which payments have been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made. Payment of future medical expenses is covered under the MSP. Worker s compensation is a program that compensates workers for injuries sustained on the job. If an injured worker is eligible for Medicare, Medicare is a secondary payer of medical expenses to worker s compensation. Most state worker s compensation programs provide for final settlements to close a claim, ending the employer/insurer s financial obligation. Once a final settlement is reached, the injured worker cannot look to the employer/insurer for payment of medical expenses associated with the injury. Medicare has an interest in a lumpsum settlement to the extent that the funds are intended to pay future medical expenses. To prevent such a settlement from shifting responsibility for payment of future medical costs from the primary payer to Medicare, Medicare requires a portion of the settlement to be set aside for payment of future medical benefits that Medicare would otherwise pay. 29 The amount of the set-aside is determined on a case-bycase basis, and should be reviewed by CMS. Once the CMS determined setaside amount is exhausted and accurately accounted for to CMS, Medicare becomes the primary payer for future Medicare-covered expenses. 30 Worker s compensation commutation cases are settlement awards intended to compensate individuals for future medical expenses resulting from a workrelated injury. Compromise settlements, on the other hand, are deemed to be a worker s compensation payment for current or past medical expenses. Medicare set-asides are only required in commutation cases. Third-party Liability Cases All insurers, third-party health plans, self-insured plans and self-administered plans are required to identify situations where the plan is or has been a primary plan to Medicare. Failure to comply results in a penalty of $1,000 for each day of noncompliance for each individual for whom the information should have been submitted. 31 Medicare does not require set-asides for third-party liability cases at this time, mainly because CMS does not review liability settlements as it does worker s compensation settlements. Therefore, there is no mechanism in place to calculate a set-aside amount to protect Medicare s interests. Nevertheless, plaintiffs attorneys may wish to calculate a set-aside amount using the rules CMS imposes on worker s compensation cases. Alternatively, there are companies that specialize in determining the amount of Medicare set-asides and establishing Medicare set-aside trusts. Structured Settlement Planning A structured settlement commonly involves the purchase, by the defendant s insurance carrier, of an annuity calculated to pay certain sums at regularly scheduled intervals in the future. Insurance carriers representing defendants in a personal injury case often favor structured settlements because they can settle the case for less money up front than the actual value of the case. Insurance companies, however, often are unwilling to disclose the amount that will be paid to purchase the annuity. This makes it difficult for the plaintiff s lawyer to evaluate the merits of the settlement offer. Structured settlements are intended to provide a secure and fixed stream of recurring payments to a claimant over a long period of time. They avoid dissipation of lump sums by injured parties who may then be left without means of support. Strong public policy in favor of deterring claimants from squandering their settlements or awards has led to favorable tax rules for structured settlements. Structured settlement proceeds are not subject to income tax. The proceeds, however, can be subject to federal estate tax if the settlement is structured with guaranteed payments so the person with disabilities would receive payments for life and another person would receive payments upon the death of the disabled person. Under those circumstances, the present value of the payments to be received by the other person would be included in the deceased person s estate. Structured settlement annuities can be combined with lump-sum payments to meet the specific needs of the injured individual. For example, lump-sum payments can be used to pay medical bills, rehabilitation costs and debts of the injured party. Settlements can be structured without the purchase of an annuity. The plaintiff can settle the matter for a lump-sum and future payments, and assign a certain amount of the settlement proceeds to a structured settlement trust. The trustee invests the proceeds to maximize asset growth and income, and makes periodic payments to the injured party. NEW JERSEY LAWYER August

20 Structured Settlement Planning with Special Needs Trusts Payments from a structured settlement can be made to a special needs trust. A special needs trust enables the individual with disabilities to retain existing means-tested public benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid, or to financially qualify for such benefits while having funds available to supplement the individual s needs that are not covered by government programs. The trust funds can be used for a myriad of purposes, such as additional support services at home, vacations, companions, vehicles and a residence. If a special needs trust is created, the amount in the trust paid back to Medicaid will be deductible for federal estate tax purposes as a claim against the estate. A structured settlement may be advantageous to the plaintiff because of the availability of large sums of money to the trustee of a special needs trust. Structured settlement payments often provide a fixed stream of income, and therefore, they usually will not be subject to unfavorable economic conditions, such as recessions or inflation. One of the disadvantages of structured settlements, however, is the inability of the injured party to change the amount received or the schedule of payments. When circumstances change and the injured party needs a lump sum of money (to purchase a house, for example) the injured party cannot simply give the annuity back to the life insurance company for a lump sum. Similarly, the injured party is unable to unilaterally change the payee of the structured settlement. Yet often there is a need to make such a change when it is subsequently determined that the payments should be deposited into a special needs trust so the injured person can receive public benefits. If structured settlement payments are going to be placed into a special needs trust, the defendant, or his or her assignee, should purchase the structured settlement to avoid constructive receipt by the plaintiff or the special needs trust, and to avoid the loss of the benefit of tax-free interest. The trustee of the special needs trust should be named as the recipient of the structured settlement payments. If the individual with disabilities is named as the recipient, the payments can disqualify the disabled person from receiving means-tested benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. A judgment involving both a structured settlement and a special needs trust should direct the periodic payments from a structured settlement to pour over into the special needs trust. Qualified Settlement Funds Section 468B of the Internal Revenue Code authorizes the establishment of qualified settlement funds. A qualified settlement fund (QSF) permits a plaintiff to set up a structured settlement without participation by the defendant, so the plaintiff can receive certain tax advantages of these settlements with provisions that best meet his or her needs. QSFs typically are used to settle class action litigation, but they also can be used by plaintiffs with individual claims. QSFs provide defendants with an immediate tax deduction, as well as a full release. After the settlement or trial proceeds have been deposited into the QSF, the funds can be turned over to the plaintiff, paid into a special needs or other trust, or used to buy a structured-settlement annuity that would provide the same tax advantages to the plaintiff as a structured settlement purchased by a defendant insurer. Guardianships/Conservatorships When the injured party is mentally incapacitated or a minor, it may be necessary to have a guardian or conservator appointed to prosecute and settle the personal injury litigation, or to provide judicial oversight of the settlement or litigation proceeds. The special needs attorney can file a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding under Rule 4:86 and assist the personal injury attorney in obtaining court approval for the settlement and the establishment of a special needs trust. Determining the Appropriate Fiduciaries The assistance of the special needs attorney is valuable in identifying an appropriate guardian and trustee. That attorney can recommend corporate fiduciaries, when appropriate, and counsel the injured party or family members with respect to the qualifications that should be considered in choosing fiduciaries. Family members may not be the best choice as trustee. A fiduciary must exercise a high degree of care when dealing with and managing the property of a ward or beneficiary. A fiduciary s interest cannot conflict with the duty of loyalty. 32 This high standard is quite rigid. A trustee is a fiduciary, and, among other things, a trustee must follow the terms of the trust regarding how it should be managed. Guardians and trustees must keep accurate records. The fiduciary may be required to act in accordance with the state s Prudent Investor Act or as a reasonably prudent investor pursuant to the common law of a state that has not enacted the Prudent Investor Act. Some states require trustees of third-party trusts to render accountings on a regular basis (such as once a year), and the trust itself may contain provisions regarding how often the trustee must provide such an accounting. New Jersey regulations mandate additional responsibilities for special needs trustees, including, inter alia: 1) periodic accountings of all expenditures 20 NEW JERSEY LAWYER August 2010

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